Recording traffic analyzer



Nov. 24, 1964 G. F. LONG 3,153,687

RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER Filed Feb. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SEC SECSCAN SCAN AUI'OMATIG STOP (nouns) INVENTOR GLEN f. LONG BY 1M1. f. 3

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Nov. 24, 1964 G. F. LONG 3,153,637

RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER Filed Feb. 19, 1962 4 sheets-sheet 5 SCANNERUNIT T o L PRINTER "PAH Nov. 24, 1964 G. F. LONG 3,158,687

RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER Filed Feb. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m NaSEzou United States Patent C) 3,158,687 RECORDING TRAFFIC ANALYZER GlenF. Long, Dallas, Tern, assignor to Universal Controls Corporation,Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Texas Fiied Feb. 19, 1962, Ser. No.174,166 19 Claims. (@i. 179--8) This invention relates to a recordingtraffic analyzer and more particularly to such an analyzer for studyingtrafiic situations such as occur in electric communicating systems, i.e.in telephone equipment such as switches, trunk lines or the like.

Results are achieved by scanning the desired group or groups ofequipment being studied, at selected recurrent time intervals, theinformation thus gathered being stored on suitable counters for andsubject to periodic printout at predetermined and selected intervalswhereby studies may be made over time periods of selected lengthsgreater than scan periods at all or various portions of 24 hour days fordetermination, for instance, of the degree of saturation of trunk linesor the like.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide novel and improvedtraflic counting means, count storage means, print-out means, etc.together with automatic timing mechanism for selecting various timeintervals for making traffic studies, the intervals being automaticallystopped and started and, subject to either manual or remote starting andmanual or automatic stopping.

In the operation and maintenance of automatic communication systems andparticularly in connection with automatic telephone systems, thenecessity for a thorough knowledge of the volume of traific to which thetrunks and other equipment are subjected is a necessity in order tooperate the system most economically and to provide the least periods ofinterruption to traffic because of overloaded circuits. With increasesin telephone exchange and network sizes, the addition of largecustomers, and changes in the various classes of traflic both from oneperiod to another and from day to day as changes occur in businessconditions, weather conditions and other situations causingunprecedented loads on the circuits and equipment it becomes necessaryto add to, subtract from or rearrange existing switching and trunkequipment to meet these changing trafiic conditions. This necessitatesperiodic studies as a routine method in properly engineering the systemfor the desired quality of service demanded by the customers or desiredby the operating company.

Many methods are known for making these traffic studies and equipmenthas been provided for the purpose. Some systems are mere extensions ofthe manual systems of providing a number of observers to periodicallytake counts of trafiic, for instance, on a group of trunks, but most ofthese are still largely dependent on personal observation and/ orrecording even though some of the operations may be automatic.

it is a purpose of the present invention to provide a system which iswholly automatic in every respect so that after the equipment providedis connected to the trunks, for instance, the tral'lic of which it isdesired to ascertain, studies may be made wholly automatically for anypredetermined period of hours in each day and at any particular time ofday, with provision for automatic shut-oft after a selected length oftraffic study, and with provision for automatic starting by dialing theexchange where equipment is installed should it be an unmanned one.

The system makes provision for periodically scanning at selectedintervals a plurality of groupsof trunks,

this word being used as exemplary of other apparatus whose trailicdensity is to be counted, adding the number of busy trunks in each groupat the time of each scan,

3,158,687 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 accumulating the total number ofengaged trunks in each group over a period selectable in quarter hourintervals and then substantially simultaneously printing-out thesummation of busy trunks in each group since the previous printing-outperiod. After each print-out the printing paper is advanced, the inkedprinting ribbon is advanced, the accumulating counters are returned tozero and the whole system reset for further operation, which continuesuntil such time within the 24-hour span, as the system is set todiscontinue and then the whole system is automatically turned off afterthe final print-out.

Other than scanning the desired group or groups of equipment theapparatus is arranged for peg counts by the operation of a few switcheswhich causes the automatic scanner switches to be by-passed and pegcount information fed directly into the printing counters. Printout willtake place at the selected print period. Since each printing counteracts independently and there are a plurality of each apparatus, scanningand peg counts may be taken simultaneously within the capacity of theprinting counters.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide anovel and improved recording trafiic analyzer of the type set forth.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide anautomatic recording traflic analyzer adapted for connection to anymultiple of apparatus whose condition, is. functioning or unoccupied isdesired to be summed and periodically printed.

In particular it is an object of the invention to simultaneously scan apiurality of groups of apparatus whose condition is to be ascertained atselectable and shortly recurring intervals to accumulate the sum of theactive measured units in each group and to periodically printautomatically on advancing paper the counted sums, plus the time ofprint-out, restoring the printing counters to a zero position andcontinuing the count if desired.

Another specific object of the invention comprises the arrangement ofmeans incorporated in the mechanism permitting the selection of anydesired length of traffic count, within a twenty-four hour period, inmultiples of one hour with automatic shut-off.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for manual or automaticstart of the count period, the latter being accomplished at pointsremote from the person initiating the count. by sequentially dialing twoditferent unused telephone numbers associated with the exchange wherethe count is to be made.

An important feature of the invention resides in the facility with whichthe apparatus may be adapted for multiple unit scanning or peg count orcombinations of the two with printed results for each at selected timeintervals.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of theaccompanying drawings and following specification, wherein is discloseda single exemplary embodiment of the invention with the understandingthat such changes and modifications may be made therein as fall Withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In said drawings:

FIGURES 1A and 1B jointly disclose the circuits of the recording trafficanalyzer including the manual and remote start circuits, the scanningmechanism, the timing mechanism for the scanner, the print-out mechanismand the study length control circuits;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the control circuits for the printer as energizedfrom the scanner; and i FIGURE '3 illustrates the circuits of theprinter in-, cluding the printing counters, paper and ribbon advance,and counter reset circuitry. 4

The apparatus of the present invention, as previously intimated, will bedescribed in connection with the makink of traffic density counts ongroups of telephone trunk lines, but it may be used also for countingmany other conditions or operations and is primarily con structed sothat it scans periodically a whole group of devices whose condition isto be ascertained. In telephone traffic counting for to determinewhether or not a trunk is occupied, appropriate connections are made toa terminal in some part of the trunk circuit which indicates by thepresence or absence of a potential or ground the difference between anoccupied and unoccuied trunk. As shown in the drawings the printingcounters are supplied with a negative potential, therefore a ground orpositive potential on the trunk is an indication of its active use.

The apparatus, illustrated in the drawings, is intended to count andrecord the condition of five banks of trunks (FIGURE 1B) designated A toE, inclusive, each including 25 trunk lines. Only two banks are shown inthe drawing with letters designating the similar intervening ones, allof the same general arrangement and connections. Also shown are lines,one for each printing counter, indicating circuits for peg counts andthey are so marked. From each of the trunk banks A to E, inclusive, aconductor 6 extends from a terminal of each line therein to one of thetwenty-five contacts of the correspondingly lettered scan switch banks Ato E of the rotary type. Each such scan switch is provided with a doubleended contact wiper 10 and all of the wipers are mechanically connectedtogether and arranged to be driven, as indicated by a dotted line, instep from a well known type stepping switch mechanism, shown ascomprising two magnets 11 and 12 which are advanced when alternatelyenergized in a manner later to be described, to step the wipers onecontact at a time in conventional manner to thus successively connectthe wipers l3 and their conductors 14 to the respective switch contacts.These conductors 14 lead to the scan contacts of the multiple, doublethrow switches 15 having separate manually adjustable arms 16connectible either to the scan contacts or to the contacts marked PCwhich are directly connected to the peg count conductors 17, wherebyupon operation of the arms 16 manually, either a scan count or a pegcount may be taken, and the conductors assocated with the respectivedevices to be counted are connected, through the contacts of relay 2%),to conductors 21 which lead to the printing counter control circuitswhich will be later described.

Since the whole apparatus is dependent on time cycles, particularly forscanning, printing and length of operation, a suitable motor 23 (FIGURE1A) of the synchronous A.C. type is used for timing purposes and isconnected, as indicated by dotted lines 24, tofive cams 25 to 29,inclusive, and respectively arranged and geared for actuating theirswitch arms between normally closed and normally open contacts atrespectively 6, 10 and 100 second and one minute and five minuteintervals, the purposes of which will be later described, but it may bestated that the arbitrary periods of 6, 10 and 100 seconds permit achoice of these intervals between scan operations, the choice being madeby closing the proper switch shown just to the left of each cam.

The apparatus is designed either for manual and thus continuousoperation until shut-off, or, automatic operation where the start may bemanual or is initiated by dialing two ditierent telephone numbers of theexchange where the apparatus is located. Under the latter circumstancesautomatic timing mechanism, which will be further described, providesfor terminating the operation at the end of a selected interval. Thedouble-pole, double-throw switch 39 when set to the position markedcontinuous provides for manual start and stop and when set to theposition marked automatic engages the remote start and stop circuits;

Throughout the drawings relays and other circuit components are shownconnected to a circle marked minus and this potential is assumed to bedelivered to those terminals from the terminal board marked TB at theextreme left of FIGURE 1A, indicating a source of power of 48 voltsnegative for the purpose. A manual switch 31 provides for turning the 48volt power on and ed.

In a like manner the ground terminal on terminal board TB is intended tobe connected to all of the grounds shown in the various portions of thecircuit.

Also shown on the terminal board is terminal T which is to be connectedto the tip side of an unused or vacant line terminal in the exchange andthe terminal R which is to be connected to the ring side of the sameline terminal. Terminal DT shall be connected to a source of dial tone.

Manual Start With the trafiic study switch 30 set to the continuousposition the closing of the power switch 31 starts the operation byputting ground on relay 32, which through its contact 2 places ground onrelay 33 which will start the scan operation as will be more fullydescribed in connection with the automatic start.

Automatic Start The above is accomplished by closing the trafiic studyswitch 30 to the downward position marked automatic and closing powerswitch 31. At the desired start time and from any remote point a call isplaced to the line connected to the terminal T which operates relay 34which locks up through its contact 1 and grounded line 35 through theone minute switch actuated by earn 23. A second call is placed to theline connected to to terminal R on the terminal board energizing relay36. Relays 34 and 36 through their series connected contacts 3 place thedial tone on the circuit connected to contact R, indicating to thecalling party that the recording trailic analyzer has received thestarting signal. Through series connected contacts 2 of relays 34 and 36ground is extended through conductor 37 and through the traffic studyswitch 3% to relay 32 and, hence, to 33 as previously mentioned to startthe tratfic study as with the manual operation. Holding ground forrelays 34 and 36 is provided directly through their own contacts 1 foruse after the calling line is released, and is derived from the groundassociated with the one minute cam 28 which releases this ground every58 seconds to prevent accidental false calls from starting the scannerunit.

11 a nual S tarz-A utomatic S top To achieve manual start with automaticstop the tratfic study switch is closed to continuous then immediatelymoved to automatic. The first setting places ground on relay 33 toeffect start as explained above while the the second acts to permit thefive-minute cam 29 to ap ply ground to conductor 41 to operate slowrelease relay 44, then as cam 29 moves, ground is applied to relay 42through the break contact of cam 29 and the make contact of 44. Thisstarts the scanning mechanism as noted below, and it will continue torun for the number of hours determined by the setting of the automaticstop switches to be later described.

Operation: (Manual or Automatic) When the starting signal occurs, groundis extended to operate relay 3?; which operates relay 33. They lock toground through their own contacts (2, l, 5). Relay 33 through itscontact 2 and conductor 37 extends ground to relay Ztl which thenconnects either the scanner arms ltl or the peg count lines 17, asselected by switches 16, to the printing counters through lines 21, andremoves the ground from line 38 through its contact 5. This line withthe switch 39 manually closed has actuated relay 4%} for the purpose ofreturning the time switch mechanism, to be later described, to its homeposition at the last shut-oh? of the apparatus. Relay 33 also throughits contact 3 connects ground to the lever of five minute time switch29. When this live minute switch operates, ground is extended throughconductor 41, normally closed contacts 1 of relay 42 and the conductor43 to actuate relay 44 of the extra slow release type as indicated.Simultaneously the contact of relay 44 extends ground from the lever offive minute cam switch 29 to actuate relay 42, which then locks to relay33 through the latters ground contact 3 and completes an operating paththrough conductor 45 to ground for energizing relay 47.

Relay 47 is as shown a two coil relay intended to alternately positionits movable contact 3 between two stationary contacts thus alternatelyenergizing stepping magnets 11 and 12, previously mentioned, which stepall the scan switch wipers simultaneously. The armature of relay 47 alsomoves contact 1 of pulsator switch 48 so that ground is extendedalternately to the two coils of relay 47. Thus, as relay 47 pulses, agrounded condenser 49 is charged and discharged through the coils of therelays 12 and 11, stepping the wipers it) across the points of the scanswitches. The wipers 10 of the scan switches are connected to theprinting counters through the contacts of relay 20, previouslymentioned, and through the contacts of scan-stop relay 50 thusfurnishing grounds from the circuits under study to advance the countersfor the accumulating and printing mechanism to be later described. Theoutputs of the contacts of relays 5t) and are fed through conductors 21to the terminal board at 52 as previously mentioned.

In addition to the scan switch banks A to E stepped by the coils 11 and12, two additional banks with wipers 53 and 54, respectively, are alsoadvanced and when the th and only connected point is engaged by wiper53, ground from the selected 6, 10 or 100 second switches, numbered 25,26 and 27, respectively, is extended to operate relay 56 which atcontact 1 opens the operating circuit of relay 47 terminating the actualscanning operation. This switch is then returned to home position by theground on wiper 54 extended from grounded contact 2 of relay 33 throughthe inter-connected bank contacts of wiper 54 thus providing a quickreturn, which terminates when the wiper clears the first contact. Thisarrangement also provides for homing the wipers on the re-establishmentof current should it he accidentally shut oif during the scan cycle.

The operation of relay 56 also extends ground through its contact 1,closed now, to operate relay 5i and relay 56 is held over its owncontacts 3 which are connected to the break contacts of the selected 6,10 or 100 second cam switches, whereby the scan cycle is controlled bythe desired time interval of 6, 10 or 100 seconds as selected. Theoperation of relay 5% disconnects the printing counter leads 21 from thescan switch wiper and prepares the circuit for relay 57 in preparationfor printout. However, unless means is provided to stop the scanning andaccumulating operations, or the time for printing cycle has arrived, thescanning operation is repeated as just described at each 6, 10 or 100second cycle since the scan cycle initiating relays have remainedclosed.

During these scan cycles each time that scan switch wiper 10 engages acontact connected to a busy trunk, a ground pulse advances the printingcounter connected to that wiper, one digit per busy trunk, and this isrepeated for each scan cycle until the timing mechanism calls forprint-out, at which time the accumulated total count of busy trunksdetected in all of the 25' step cycles since the last printing isprinted. For purposes of convenience and simplicity, only a singlecounter wheel has been indicated to be operated by each counter magnet,but actually there are as many as five counter wheels with only theunits digit wheel initially and originally advanced by the appropriateactuating magnet, but when this wheel makes ten steps it automaticallymoves the next higher wheel one step, in the customary manner and so onas is conventional.

At any rate, the scan cycles are repeated at the intervals determined bythe selection of one of the cams 25, 26 or 27 by the manual closing ofits associated switch. This selected cam then starts the next cycleafter the lapse of the elected time.

After the desired period of scanning and printing has terminated theapparatus may be shut down by manually opening switch 31 or the stop maybe automatic under the control of a stop switch mechanism which haspreviously been set to determine the number of hours of operation whichwill take place after the start.

Automatic Stop Switch The manual setting portion of the automatic stopswitch 60, shown in FIGURE 1A with the contacts arranged in a straightline is actually a two-bank rotary switch with the two contact arms 71and 72 mounted on the same shaft. This together with a plurality ofmulti-contact switches, of the type previously described, contacted bythe wipers 61 to 70, inclusive, may be termed a time switch. Certaincontacts of the multi-contact switches, as shown, are connected to thecontacts of switches 60, the wipers of which are simultaneouslyadjustable to set the number of hours from 1 to 24 which it is desiredthat the apparatus run. The purpose of the automatic stop switch is toprovide that at the hour at which switch 60 has been set, ground isextended through the same to shunt down relay 33 which releases relay 32stopping the scanner and, hence, the printer and associated apparatus.

Automatic Stop Switch: (1 to 12 Hours) Relay 4th is fitted with anarmature and ratchet mechanism of known type for stepping the shaftwhich carries all of the wipers 61 through previously mentioned. Thisstepping relay together with the wipers and their contacts constitutes acomplete time switch which provides circuits for automatic stop of thewhole apparatus at any multiple up to 24 of one hour intervals. It alsotimes the 15, 30 or 60 minute print-out signals which are selectable bymanipulating one of the three switches at 77 in accordance with theirdesignation. These switches are seen to select one of the wipers 67, 68or 69 for timing the printer. The shaft carrying all of the wipers justdescribed is stepped at five minute intervals by energization ofstepping relay 40 under the control of the five minute cam 29 throughconductor 76, engaged contacts 1 of relay 42, conductor 41, and the armof the five minute switch thus extending ground every five minutesthrough contacts 3 of relay 33 to step the time switch shaft one point.I

Assuming One Hour Stop Time:

A one hour period advances the time switch shaft to its 12th position sothat wiper 61 reaches its 12th contact, which as shown is connected tothe one hour contact on 60. The 10 second cam 26, through conductor 78and the upper contacts successively of relays 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83extends ground to wiper 61 which through contacts 71, conductor 85,contacts 1 of relay through the traflic study switch 30, extends groundto conductor 86, contacts 2 of relay 56 and conductor 87 to shunt downrelay 33 which releasesrelay 32 and severs ground from the scan relay 47to terminate the scanning operation. 7

Two or More Hours Stop: (Assume 4 Hour Stop) As the time switch reachesthe 24th point at the end of two hours, ground is extended from wiper 61to relay 83 which locks up over its contacts 3? and transfers groundfrom wiper 61 towiper 62. This causes wiper 70 which is grounded through10 second cam 26 to extend ground to the time switch stepping relay 40'via conductor 88, contact "5 of energized relay 33, and conductor 38through closed switch 39. The stepping relay 46 for the time switch,which also returns it to home position is of the self-interrupting typeby virtue of its grease? interrupter contacts 1 which are only effectivewhen the relay is energized through conductor 38, as distinguished fromits 5 minute stepping which is eifected through conductor 76. Itadvances the switches shaft one step each time released under the actionof this interrupter. Homing is effected by the multiple connectedcontacts on switch by a ground on conductor 88 as just explained.

During the next two hour period the time switch is again advanced topoint 24 through the operation of stepping relay 40 and the wiper 62,now grounded, extends that condition through point 24 on its set ofcontacts to the automatic stop switch contact 71, now set at the fourthcontact down from the top, and again shunts down relay 33 which releasesrelay 32 stopping the scanner. It should be remembered that each advanceof wiper 62 through 180 occupies 2 hours time. Longer operating periodsfollow the above procedure with successive wipers 63 to 66 brought tothe grounded condition to determine the period length.

Thirteen to 24 Hours Stop:

The first twelve hours are absorbed by relays 83, 82, 81, S0, 79 and 76whose lower contacts are tandem connected. Each absorbs two hours underthe control of its own wiper. At the end of the twelfth hour relay '76operates removing the holding ground from relay which releases. Therelay 40 continues to step the switches around starting a second twelfthhour cycle which operates as follows:

At each succeeding five minute interval the five minute cam delivers aground pulse to the coil of relay 4% which advances the wipers 61through 79. After twenty-four five minute periods have elapsed wiper 61is connected to the coil of relay 33 so that when the ten second cam 26applies ground to its break contact it is extended through contacts 1 ofrelays '79 through 83 to wiper 61, thence to the coil of relay 83,operating it to lock over its 3 contact to ground through contact 1 ofoperated relay 32 via 3 contacts of relays 79 to 83 and 1 contact ofrelay 76.

As the ten second cam 26 applies ground to its make contact, and thenceto wiper 70, through its 24 con tact, through operated relay 33 andconductor 38 and switch 39 relay 40 returns the timing switch wipers tothe starting point. At the end of the next two hour period wiper 62engages its twenty-fourth contact to which the coil of relay 82 isconnected and the same procedure is repeated. Thus, as the clock systemadvances only one of the relays 76', 79 through 83 is operated at anyone instant. At the end of twelve hours relay 76' operates but finds noholding ground and therefore operates only momentarily, and thus theclock is reset to its original starting point ready for another twelvehours. Points 1 through 24 of the automatic stop switch 60 are connectedinto the banks of rotary time switch contacts at points 12 and 24thereof; therefore the ground which is being fed the wipers is alsoavailable to the switch 611 and should contactor 71 be set at anyparticular hour after twelve upon appearance of this ground relay 33 isshunted down through the trafiic study switch during the silent intervalof the scan cycle which is indicated by relay 56 being operated to closeits contacts 2.

Counting and Time Printing Circuit:

FIGURE 3 illustrates the counting mechanism and its controls along withsome of the printing mechanisms. The circuit terminals shown at 52 inFIGURE 1B and designated C1 to C5, inclusive, are connected to similarlymarked terminals at and conductors from these terminals leadrespectively to counter magnets 96 to 1011, inclusive, each of whichincludes mechanism for advancing a ten digit counter wheel, such as 101,one digit step for each operation of the magnet. Counter wheel 1191 andeach of its unnumbered counterparts actually represents a connectedsuccession of 3 to 5 counter wheels so arranged that when the unitswheel has made one full revolution it advances the tens wheel one stepand so on as is quite common and well known. Thus successive pulses toeach counter magnet properly advance its wheels to sum up the totalnumber of impulses received between print-out operations, thusindicating the sum of all of the scanned, energized, or in use, trunksin each group of 25 which are alloted to one counter magnet.

In addition to the counter magnets 96 to 1110 there is a time magnet 102one of whose conductors is designated 103 and appears also on FIGURE 1Bconnected to the one minute cam switch 28 whereby the time disc 104 andits coupled companions are properly moved at one minute intervals.

Wide paper tape 1115 is fed beneath the disc 191 and 104 as shown andthe armatures of print solenoids 106 through 1111, respectively, whenenergized move to press the paper against an inked ribbon 1115 of thetypewritten style which passes between the paper and the raised numeralson the counter wheels whereby to effect printout. Magnet 111 eficctsprinting for the time wheel.

Solenoids 112 and 113 effect paper advance after each print-outoperation and solenoid 114 advances the ribbon at the same time topresent fresh surfaces.

At 116 is shown a switch between the contacts of which the paper passesin order to hold them separated. When the paper is exhausted thecontacts close and operate an alarm through conductor 117.

All of the counter printing wheels are arranged to be brought back tozero at the finish of each print-out operation by the reset motor 120which makes a single revolution for the purpose, carrying with it shaft120 appropriately carrying known components for bringing the wheels backto zero positions. The conductor 121 provides a negative potential tothe motor and positive or ground is supplied by conductor 122 from theprinter control circuit which will be later described. The reset motoris of the single revolution type under the control of a relay, whosemovable spring 123 is actuated by a radial extension 124 from the shaft121, and which controls the motor stop switch 125 to effectively insurefull single rotation operation upon receipt of each impulse. Such motorsare well known.

Printer Control Circuits FIGURE 2 illustrates the print control circuitswhich provide a means for controlling the printer, counter reset, paperand ribbon advance and so on.

Upon command from one of the time switch wipers 67, 68 or 69 (FIGURE 13)ground is received over lead 90 by the operation of and through contacts2 of print re lay 57, which through the contacts of a number of relays133, 13.5, 134 and 132 energizes relay of the slow release type.Contacts 1 of relay 5? return ground from lead 131 to lead 91 to shuntdown relay 20 to disconnect the trunk-use counting leads C1 to C5 fromthe printing counters. Relay 1311 when operated extends ground to relay132 and through its own contacts 2 to printer lead 133 operatingprinting relays 1116, 107 and 108. Relay 132 operates and relay 130releases, whereby ground is extended to relay 134. Relay 134 extendsground to and operates relay 135. Relay 134 releases and relay 135operates relay 137 and relay 135 releases. Relay 138 operates. Groundfrom lever "5 of 138 is extended to lever "1 of relay 135 through leverl of relay 137 which is operated, to conductor 122 to actuate the resetmotor in the printer.

Printer control sequences, relay 1311 applies ground to lead 133 whichoperates printing relays 106, 107 and 108. Then ground is applied tolead 136 operating printing magnets 109, 111i and 111. Ground is appliedto lead 122 which actuates the reset motor to set the counters to zero.Then ground is applied to lead 141) which operates the paper advancemagnets 112, 113 the first time. Then 9 ground is applied to lead 141 toadvance the ribbon. Then ground is applied to lead 142 which is strappedto 140 to advance the paper another step.

Relay 135 releases and relay 138 releases when ground is removed fromlead 99 when print relay 57 opens. This is under control of the timeswitch which holds closed for approximately five minutes after eachautomatic print out. This last operation returns the whole system to thecondition which existed before print-out except for the reset counterwheels.

Print-Out Arrangements are made so that printing may be eifected every15, 30 or 60 minutes in accordance with the setting of one of theswitches 77. These select contacts engageable by either wiper, 67, 68 or69 on the time switch. Assuming that the 60 minute arm of the print-outswitch 77 is closed, it will be noted, that when wiper 69 reaches point12 and/or 24, ground is extended through the 60 minute switch, throughthe contacts of operated relay 50, through contact 3 of relay 57 toenergize the latter and this through its contact 2 extends ground toconductor 90 which is connected to the printer control circuit and theprinter returns ground over lead 91 to hold relay 57 operated duringprint-out. It also provides a shunt ground to release relay 20 throughcontacts 1 of relay 57. This isolates the counter wheel advance magnetsfrom the scanners. Ground on conductor 91 is removed when the printerhas completed the printout cycle and therefore relay 20 operates closingthe leads from the scan switches A to E to the counter leads C1 to C5,inclusive which lead to the printing counters.

Adjacent relay 57 is manual switch 92 permitting manual print-out at anytime intermediate the times selected by the print-out switches 77Print-Out at Automatic Stop As pointed out above in connection with theoperation of the time switch, for say the one-hour period, it will benoted that when wiper 61 reaches the twelfth position, the ten secondcam 26 extends ground to that wiper which in turn extends it to shuntdown relay 33 which releases relay 32 stopping the scanners. This groundis also extended over conductors 86 and 86 to operate relay 57 whichfunctions as described in connection with the 60 minute print-out above.

Peg Count Since each counter acts independently, as appears above, itcan be used either for scan counts, as described above, or for a pegcount. For this purpose one or more of the peg conductors 17 is selectedby moving its switch 16 to its PC contact whereby the printing counteris disconnected from the scan lead and connected to the peg countterminal so that all information fed to this terminal is extendeddirectly to the printer counter. The counters may be used for peg countsand scanning simultaneously, i.e. a group of equipment may be studiedfor both usage and number of calls during this same traflic study. Thisdoes not mean simultaneous operation by the scanner and the peg countcircuit for any one counter, but the transfer of certain of the countersto peg counting and others to the scanning, by proper manipulation ofswitches 16. When a study is being made that does not require anyscanning the scanner switches may be stopped by manually opening switch93 which terminates the operation of relay 47 and the stepping coils 11and 12.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A traific analyzer for telephone systems comprising in combinationabanic of multi-point scan switches having rotary contact wipers, meansfor connecting each switch point to a telephone line having a voltageavailable thereon only when in use, means responsive to the ciosing of acircuit to simultaneously rotate said wipers step by step so that eachcontacts all points of its switch once and then stops, a set ofaccumulator wheels for each switch, means actuated by telephone linevoltage, when detected by each switch wiper to advance by one digit itsset of accumulator wheels, raised numerals on the faces of said wheels,means to repeat the switch Wiper rotation at intervals, timing mechanismadapted to close said circuit at different multi-second intervals,manually settable means to select the length of said intervals, a paperroll, means to advance said paper beneath said accumulator wheels, meansto feed an inked ribbon between said paper and said numerals, saidtiming means also being adapted to close a different circuit atfractional hour intervals, means to manually select a desired number ofsaid intervals, and means actuated by said last mentioned circuit whenclosed to impress said paper against said ribbon and numbers toprint-out the sum of detected telephone line voltages for each of saidrotary Wiper arms.

2. The traffic analyzer of claim 1 in which a circuit connects eachswitch arm to its accumulator wheel-set advance means, and relay meansto open said circuits during the printing operation.

3. The trafiic analyzer of claim 2 in which a manual switch is providedto initiate print-out when desired, means to bar the print-out voltagederived from said manual switch from the said circuit opening relay, andmeans associated with said print-out mechanism to supply a voltage toopen said last-mentioned relay.

4. The traific analyzer of claim 1 in which means is provided to resetall of said accumulator wheels to zero simultaneously, and circuit meansincluding a relay to energize said reset means, and means to actuatesaid lastmentioned relay after the paper and ribbon have been pressedagainst the accumulator wheel numerals.

5. The urafiic analyzer as defined in claim 1 capable of also making asingle peg count in lieu of counting the output of each said scanswitch, and including a group of two-point manual switches each havingan arm electrically connected to the means actuated by telephone linevoltage to advance one set of said accumulator wheels, each scan switchoutput being connected to one of said points and each peg beingconnected to the other point of a two-point switch, said two-pointswitches being individually adjustable whereby scan counts and pegcounts may be recorded simultaneously to the total number of accumulatorwheel sets.

6. A tratfic analyzer for multi-conductor systems comprising incombination a scan switch having a contact connected to each conductorin at least a portion of said system, a rotary wiper arm adapted tosucessively engage said contacts to detect the presence of a voltagethereon, means to rotate said wiper arm step by step to engage each saidcontacts once, accumulator mechanism including printer Wheels havingdigits in relief on their peripheries, means to advance said digits aunit at a time immediately on detection of a voltage on any contact,means to repeat said wiper arm stepping at repetitions of a selectedinterval, means to print a record from said printer wheel digits atselected intervals, and means actuated subsequent to each said printingoperation to reset said wheels to zero.

7. The trafiic analyzer of claim 6 in which there is a continuouslyrunning synchronous time motor, contacts under the control of saidmotor, operable at various intervals to energize drive means for saidswitch rotary wiper arm for one circuit travel and manual means toselect any one of said intervals as the controlling one for said rotarywiper arm.

8. The trailic analyzer of claim 7 in which there is a time switchadvanced at intervals by a contact controlled stepper, said lastmentioned contact being driven by said time motor, and manuallyselectable electric contact means connected to adjust said time switchto close a circuit at any of several print-out intervals, said timeswitch being connected to actuate the said printing means to produce arecord from the printing wheel digits.

areacsv 9. The trafiic analyzer of claim 7 in which there is a set oftime designating digits arranged on the edges of printer discs, means toadvance said discs under control of a contact driven by said time motorand means to print on said record the time of each printing from thescanswitch-actuated accumulator wheels.

10. A tr-atlic recorder for use in recording the busy conditions oflines, for instance, in a telephone system comprising in combination,accumulating counter wheels, means for automatically scanning said linessuccessively and periodically at accurate intervals, means for using theindividual potentials of the busy lines of a selected group of suchlines when scanned for directly advancing said accumulating counterwheels one digit per potential impulse, type faces on said countedwheels, and means for periodically printing a record directly from saidtype at intervals substantially greater than the scan intervals.

11. The traflic recorder system of claim 10 connected for use in atelephone system and located in an exchange unmanned at times, a groupof relays connected for sequential operation to start said system inoperation, means connecting one of said relays for energization from thetip side of an incoming telephone line, means connecting another of saidrelays for energization from the ning side of said incoming telephoneline, and said specified relays being arranged to lock-up through theirown contacts and start the system in operation only it energized in thesequence named.

12. The system as defined in claim 11 in which said specified relays arefitted with contacts, a dial tone source is so connected through saidcontacts that when they are properly locked up the dial tone is placedon the telephone circuit having its ring side connected to the secondrelay thereby indicating to the caller that the system has been started.

13. The system as defined in claim 12 including a time switch means foropening said switch at one minute intervals to remove ground from saidrelays for the said lockup to prevent false calls starting the system.

14. The recorder as defined in claim 10 including switch and relay meansto start operation of the scanning, accumulating and printing means,timing mechanism for stopping said operation at the end of any hour upto twenty-four after said start, said timing mechanism in cluding aplurality of rotary wiper multi-point switches, timing means to advancesaid switches by steps at successive fixed intervals, a manuallysettable switch having twenty-four points for selecting the desiredrunning time, certain of said twenty-four points being connected topoints on said multi-point switches, relays having contacts and coilsconnected with the points and rotary wipers of said switches and witheach other to extend ground, when the manually selected time hasexpired, to shunt down one of said first-mentioned relays which isconnected to and stop the scanning and dependent mechanisms.

15. The recorder as defined in claim 14 including relay means connectedto automatically effect print-out of the then accumulated scan impulsesdependent upon operation of said relay shunt down.

ill

16. The recorder as defined in claim 14 in which the said means toadvance said multi-point switches includes self-actuated interruptingmeans actuated by supplying ground thereto to rapidly home the switches,and circuit means for supplying such ground automatically uponexpiration of the manually selected time period.

17. A traific recorder for use in recording the busy conditions ofgroups of telephone lines, in combination, accumulating counter wheels,means for automatically and periodically scanning the lines in eachgroup successively once per selected time interval, said means operatingsimultaneously in all groups, means for using the individual potentialsof the busy lines in each group when scanned for directly advancing saidaccumulating counter wheels alloted to said group one digit per impulse,digit type faces on t e peripheries of said counter wheels, means fortemporarily disconnecting the output of said scanning means from theadvancing means for said Wheels, means for immediately printing directfrom said typc faces onto a paper tape, means to imn'iediately restoreall said counter wheels to zero, and means for then reestablishingcontrol of said counter wheels to said scanning means.

18. An accumulating and periodic printing mechanism for a telephonetraffic counter comprising for each group of lines whose trafiic is tobe counted, a set of counter and accumulating wheels, each set includinga unit, a tens, a hundreds, etc. wheel having ten digits spaced aboutits periphery in raised type, means to advance each set of wheels onedigit per impulse immediately on its receipt from any line in its group,timing means arranged to disassociate said means from said lines at theend of any preselected time interval, an ink ribbon adjacent said wheeldigits, a paper adjacent said ribbon, means controlled by said timingmeans to press said paper against said ribbon and the latter against thewheel peripheries to print the accumulated digit total on the paper,means to release the paper, means to then restore the wheels to zero,means to advance the paper and the ribbon and means to restore saidwheel advancing means to the control of said lines for the next cycle ofaccumulation.

19. The mechanism as defined in claim 18 in which an additional set 01digit wheels is positioned to print on the same line with those recited,and clock mechanism for driving said additional set of digit wheelswhereby the actual time of each print-out is recorded therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT H ROSE,Primary Examiner. WALTER L. LYNDE, Examiner.

10. A TRAFFIC RECORDER FOR USE IN RECORDING THE BUSY CONDITIONS OFLINES, FOR INSTANCE, IN A TELEPHONE SYSTEM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION,ACCUMULATING COUNTER WHEELS, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SCANNING SAID LINESSUCCESSIVELY AND PERIODICALLY AT ACCURATE INTERVALS, MEANS FOR USING THEINDIVIDUAL POTENTIALS OF THE BUSY LINES OF A SELECTED GROUP OF SUCHLINES WHEN SCANNED FOR DIRECTLY ADVANCING SAID ACCUMULATING COUNTERWHEELS ONE DIGIT PER POTENTIAL IMPULSE, TYPE FACES ON SAID COUNTEDWHEELS, AND MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY PRINTING A RECORD DIRECTLY FROM SAIDTYPE AT INTERVALS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE SCAN INTERVALS.